Photography Brand Advice | In theory, branding sounds like the most natural element of any business plan, yet the number of misconceptions surrounding it is truly staggering. The most common misconception, especially among photographers that are just starting out, is that branding is something reserved only for large corporations. Quite the opposite is true, though: in today’s saturated markets, branding is absolutely vital for every business, big or small. And no, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on branding!

At the end of the day, your brand will allow you to stand out from the crowd of shooters and help your target audience remember you and what you can do for them. In other words, a strong brand communicates what your company does, how it does it, and at the same time, establishes trust and credibility. However, if you think branding is all about downloading a cheap logo template, typing the name of your photography business and calling it a day, you’re up for a rude awakening. Your brand covers pretty much every aspect of your business, from the logo to the tweets you publish. So, how do you go about creating a memorable, unique brand without blowing your entire budget? Read on to find out!

Branding Is A Lot Like Dating | Photography Brand Advice

When thinking of your brand, think of it as a person and the characteristics that will be most likely to appeal to your target audience. Sure, running a photography business was your dream, but the brand you will want to build isn’t just about you – it’s about your clients. Choose 5-6 words that describe the style of your photography – is it fun, edgy or classic, couture, polished, romantic, modern or vintage, stylish or hyper-realistic? This will be the essence of your brand, so take as much time as you need to make sure you get it right.

The Face Of Your Business | Photography Brand Advice

Once you define the nature of your brand, you can move on to the visual identity of your photography business. Long before a potential client gets to know your brand’s character, they’ll notice your logo and hear the name of your business, just like you’ll see the face of a person first, before getting to know them better. The logo you use will oftentimes be the first contact a potential client has with your business, so it needs to leave a lasting and favorable impression on them.

It’s the single most important brand element appearing throughout all of your marketing and stationery materials, both online and offline, and even as a watermark on your images, which is why a lot of thought and consideration has to go into its design. It’s also one of the most important points of recognition, so make sure the logo you choose will stay relevant and appropriate for years to come. Changing your logo too often will confuse your target audience and could even alienate your existing clients.

Stand Out! | Photography Brand Advice

Taking stunning pictures will get you only so far. After all, it won’t do you any good unless people actually hear about you, so if you’re serious about your photography business, you’ll need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Photography is an incredibly saturated industry, and you’ll have a much better chance of standing out if you set up a unique brand. That’s why it’s crucial you avoid using cheap templates. Not only do they have all the telltale signs of amateur design, but they’re being used by other businesses as well, which will definitely lower your chance of standing out.

Dress Up! | Photography Brand Advice

Once you’re done designing a unique logo that represents your business, your style of photography, and your unique creative vision, you’ll also want to consider defining your branding guidelines. This document will help you turn your brand into a memorable visual experience by clearly defining the color scheme you’ll be using throughout your materials, both online and off, as well as fonts and even a particular style of graphics and brand-oriented words. Ensuring consistency throughout will help people recognize your brand whether they find your business card in their wallet, stumble upon your Twitter profile, or flip through your brochure.

Mind Your Language! | Photography Brand Advice

One of the things you need to figure out even before you start your business is what it is that you can do for your potential clients that no other photographer can offer. This will allow you to differentiate yourself and attract the right clientele. However, what you say isn’t the only thing that counts – the way you say it is just as important. We’re talking about the voice you’ll be using to engage your clients, whether through social media, on your website, over the phone, or even in person. Make sure this voice is used consistently, regardless of the medium, and that the language and the tone of voice are tailored to appeal to your ideal client.

Leave Some Space For Growth | Photography Brand Advice

While you don’t want to completely revamp your branding too often, you shouldn’t be afraid of making simple tweaks here and there. After all, your business will grow and evolve, and your branding should keep up with it. Always keep an eye on the results of your efforts, and if you notice a particular tactic not working as well as it used to, tweak it to ensure optimal results.

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Testimonials

I had been following Media Novak’s work for a while now and was always impressed with their logo work. The logo designs they came up with based on my wishes for what I wanted it to look like were above and beyond what I had imagined. The process itself was smooth and so easy. I gave input and they took it on board and applied it to the next design. I would highly recommend them any day!

Chantal Lachance-Gibson Photography

I cannot begin to say enough about Mark & the team at Media Novak. Their customer service has been TOP NOTCH! They have gone way beyond my expectations and dreams and have put together a website for me that I am so proud of… I actually can’t believe that it’s mine! If you are looking for a new website or new branding then look no further… contact these guys today!

Myrick Cowart – Photographer

Thank you thank you thank you! I really appreciate all of your help and your quick replies and editing, and well, everything. I will DEFINITELY be referring your team! I love my new logo and I love that it is completely my own and completely encompasses my brand. I really appreciate all of the time and effort your team has put into this project. Thank you again and again!

Bethany Petersen – Photographer

I decided to hire Media Novak after seeing a friends logo that I really liked. I sent them my ideas but I actually preferred one of their original concepts over my own ideas! They really understood the look and feel I was trying to achieve and I am delighted with my new logo! I found the process to be really enjoyable and smooth and emails were answered very quickly… a big thumbs up from me!

Karen McGowran – Photographer

Media Novak were helpful and listened to me as the client… never once tried to push their likes onto me… but they do offer good advice. I think what has mattered most to me was once we went live, they were very much still around to iron out little problems that only became noticeable to myself with the daily running of a website and a blog! I would highly recommend them to other businesses!

Jo-Ann Stokes – Photographer

Media Novak designed a beautiful website for me and I’m very satisfied with it. They listened to what I wanted and tailored the site to fit me and I really appreciate that. Their prices are reasonable and the quality is fantastic. I would highly recommend this company.

About Us

MediaNovak is a creative design agency that specializes in web design, online marketing, graphic design and corporate identity solutions. We started our company with some basic ideals—offer our customers exceptional design, while delivering a positive customer experience.

These ideals have helped grow our business and drive customers to our door. A majority of our business comes simply from “word of mouth” referrals—one customer telling another of the experience that we offer here. We consider this the ultimate compliment.